My smaller breed are almost silent (training), my larger breed totally silent unless genuine alarm (nature).

I'd be put off by the barky nature of many spitz breeds. The Finnish would drive me mad!

> I'd be put off by the barky nature

I think that it depends also where you live and what you prefer :) Living rurally surrounded by fields and having a very large garden that can be accessed very easily by anyone, it is very good to have a dog that barks at the slightest suggestion of a person or car coming to the house or going past in the road (we have very few vehicles going past). If nothing is happening, she is quiet. Our elderly neighbours like her guarding their drive :)

>The Finnish would drive me mad!

Yes have to agree, I think often we get more of the barking bad rep by being benched near them. 

With the deeper bark, apart from initial arrival greeting they can be trained to be quiet (I can't abide yappy dogs).

For their size though Samoyeds barks are blood curdling.

When you say Finnish - which Finnish breed do you mean?  I really like the Finnish Lapphund, I didn't think that they were a noisy breed.

Don't know about the Lapphunds but the Finnish Spitz re the barking bird dog and they live up to their name.

Finnish Spitz as per my post re not liking barky Spitz breeds.

I'm used to having silent guards. Boxers will tell you there is someone there, will wait until the 'person' is in then decide if they will let them out.
I've had many calls from Boxer puppy owners wondering if their young dog will ever bark. They do, it tends to start in adolescence.

Met up with lovely young solid coloured male boxer on walk today (who Peni thought was great fun, and owners said made a change for him to have someone welcome his advances). 

Gosh aren't the tails thick and strong.  They seem to carry them quite houndy rather than the awful wheel that the Dobes tend to have.

Lethal weapons!

>Lethal weapons!

That's why I like my tails tightly curled, neither missing or lethal ;)

That's why I like my tails tightly curled, neither missing or lethal

I was staying at a breeders house a few weeks back and my girl is tailless and one of the breeders girl came to sit on my lap who had a full tail. I had no idea what to do with it! It kept getting in the way lol my girl is my first dog ever so it's all I'm use to.

You might be surprised how treating certain breeds might put you off- Westies with skin problems, GSD with gut problems, Dachshunds with back problems, Cavaliers and heart issues etc.

I do look at other traits but obviously you want to minimise risks. I wouldn't have a Westie due to not really being a terrier fan but I also think having seen how bad their skin can get and how upsetting it can be, that would also be a factor to put me off them. Hope that makes sense...

Sorry that was a specific reply to what Trialist said. But it just looks a bit random now!

As others have said, I can quite understand how your work experience would make you wary of certain breeds.  However, in finding a dog that suits you and your lifestyle best I would still suggest that as a starting point you would consider that most breeds that you may be attracted to can be healthy if you take care to find a knowledgeable, conscientious breeder who cares enough about their breed and their puppies.  Unfortunately in your line of work you are never likely to meet many of the best and healthiest examples of any breed.  I have dogs that have never been to our vets for anything other than vaccinations and puppy socialisation.

Good luck and take your time with research.

My breed chose me-have stock need stock dogs-ie Collies, Shepherd dogs etc

Lifestyle - great starting point :)

> I really like the Finnish Lapphund, I didn't think that they were a noisy breed.

Being in a ring next to them at a champ show would make me disagree, they should come with headache tablets!

Rough Collies here, chosen mostly because a friend had the most wonderful one - but also partly because I was (very irresponsibly) going to land the new pup in the kitchen without my Mum's knowledge or blessing, and I didn't think a GSD would look so cute. Still, we are 30 years and several dogs down the line, so it can't have been that bad a decision. They are a very easy breed - yes, another herder, but not a needy dog at all, will take as much exercise as you give them but won't climb the walls if circumstances reduce the norm, and a largely healthy breed.

I have dithered with other breeds in those 30 years - am very drawn to the PBGV. Had a Doberman until she was 6 months old, but despite a fabulous temperament she was not a good mix with a very submissive Rough Collie bitch, so that little experiment ended before she made my original girl's life a misery.